<p>I'm a current junior with an academic record I'm pretty proud of that puts me in the "possible but not likely" category for my top choice, Harvard.</p>
<p>I got a 36 on act, 3.97/4.47 gpa with very rigorous schedule all 3 years (11 APs by end of junior year + calc 3) and 800 on Math 2 and Chem.</p>
<p>I actively participate and have a few leadership roles in academic extracurriculars like quizbowl, academic team, Science Olympiad, etc.</p>
<p>My main non academic activities are volunteer work. I teach mentally disabled children, created a tutoring club at my school, and run a nonprofit that raises and distributes sleeping bags to the homeless, and my dedication for volunteering shows in my Gold Presidential Service award (250+ hours/year)</p>
<p>However, going through various threads, I'm realizing I'm not all that special. My activities are pretty typical for an Asian male like me.</p>
<p>Since the early deadline for Harvard is 11/01, and I will be gone for 2 months for a research program this summer (hopefully SIMR or Clarks) that leaves me less than 6 months to do something that makes me "stand out."</p>
<p>I'm not an athlete, I don't play any instruments, and the only thing I'm good at is academics and I don't think that would help me much anymore.</p>
<p>I'm not complaining, I legitimately want suggestions and I'm very open to criticism.</p>
<p>So what can someone like me achieve in my short time left?</p>
<p>Dont enroll in “As many ECs as possible” colleges dont want to see you pack your resume just for the sake of having a bunch of clubs, Admissions counselors see right through that. Join a select few clubs that you are passionate about and can devote a significant amount of time to. It shows interest in a certain thing rather than just being a boring jack of all trades.</p>
<p>It’s funny how people think that it’s possible to do something so miraculously amazing in a short time that will guarantee admission to Harvard. I think it will come down to the presentation of your app – essays, recs, whatever. Unless you win an international math/physics olympiad or a competition of similar prestige, there is no way to ‘stand out’ any other way.</p>
<p>Depth, as indicated by sloth83, matters a lot. Have you heard of Tim Doner? He studied languages all four years of high school and is fluent in 20+ of them. He got into Harvard SCEA, although that shouldn’t surprise anybody.</p>
<p>I agree with International95, there really isn’t much you can add to your pretty great profile without making it seems suspicious. It’s too late, but you already have a solid profile. You just need to work and rework your essays. That’s the only thing you have control over right now. Make it personal, true, and don’t repeat your passions over and over. A Stanford admissions officer recently noted how high school applicants overuse the word “passion.” Find your most memorable activity and describe what sort of unique life lesson it taught you and how it shaped you for the rest of your life. If you have any notably disadvantageous aspects to your life (low income family, discrimination in some way, etc) write about that. Just make sure your essay stands out, because your profile is solid, although not outstanding, as you know. Good luck!</p>
<p>Like the previous posters said, depth matters. I wouldn’t pick up a new EC if I were you (unless the opportunity is created, like robotics was for me) I would try to get more involved with the science olympiad, academic team and quiz bowl. It seems like you’ve already done a lot on the volunteer front, so why not try to go all out in the other activities?</p>
<p>I definitely think that the best move here would be for you to try and take EC’s that you would be able to devote yourself to. You shouldn’t mass-join clubs or start EC’s you don’t care about - colleges will notice. Overall, you may not be a Harvard student, but certainly still a good one.</p>
<p>Really focus on the nonprofit you started. Do you have 501(c)3 status? Grow it. Learn about working with a Board of Directors. Apply for grants, get a lot of publicity, etc. That’s a rich opportunity to not only make you ‘stand out,’ but also to really change lives in your community.</p>
<p>I’m already the captain of my science bowl team and founder/president of a tutoring club. Shouldn’t I focus on more non-academic things or should I just keep pushing my academic side of my application?</p>
<p>I’m not the founder of the non-profit. I started as a member in 9th grade and got “elected” president, though I suppose I could take the initiative to push it further along.</p>
<p>Then instead of just joining a zillion clubs, do something TOTALLY against type. Join the diving team of the football team. Take a comedy improv class. Audition for a rock band. Produce a line of videos for smart guys on how to attract hot girls. That sort of thing. It will show the world you won’t just stay where you are comfortable (academics… snore); you’re willing to venture out and put yourself on the line in a scary situation, willing to learn and willing to grow into someone very interesting who people would want to hang around (and eventually hire).</p>
<p>Build a current EC into the next level. Like, design and implement a training program for the next wave of tutors of DD kids, or something like that. Also, find some other really great colleges as Plan B - maybe visit them. </p>
<p>Lots of good suggestions here…I’ll give you the same advice I gave S1 a year ago. He did it his own way and is going to go for the top schools for grad school. My advice: Do something that underscores your passion for whatever it is that you want to do with your life. If you want to be an engineer, get involved with engineering. It is not ‘bad’ to be more academic, but you need to be focused so schools can see that it is not just another box to check…“I want to be a lawyer because they make lots of money”…does not flow as well as “I looked into the legal aspects of my non-profit and it really got me interested in the law. I did some help in a local free legal clinic to better understand how legal experts function…” or something like that. One year of a sport will not really show you have other interests. Ultimately, just be yourself and go to a school that celebrates and nurtures students like you. Don’t fit yourself to the artificial ‘you’ that the admissions people at XYZ University want you to be.</p>
<p>If you REALLY want to stand out, you need to go off the beaten path. Think about it this way, “What WOULDN’T an Asian do?”.</p>
<p>Here are some ideas:</p>
<ol>
<li>Intern at Blackwater or a PMC</li>
<li>Restore an old car</li>
<li>Take up Sky Diving</li>
<li>Go to Somalia and fight pirates</li>
<li>Do a ride along in a very dangerous neighborhood and hope you end up like Training Day</li>
<li>Get a Commercial Driving License</li>
<li>Participate in Autocross or drive a race car competitively</li>
</ol>
<p>I know a few of these may be a bit far fetched, but if you are an admissions officer, who is going to stand out more in your mind? One of 132445x Asian NHS Science Math Grades drones or a muscle car driving skydiver mercenary?</p>
<p>@Mandalorian You’re definitely right that Asians need to get off the beaten path, but some of your suggestions, while not extreme, are rather obviously against his interests. A man with no interest in wildlife shouldn’t intern at Blackwater. Further, I’d just like to let you know that not all Asians are mathematical drones. I know plenty (sadly) of Asians who are doing drugs and doing things like “a ride along in a very dangerous neighborhood.” </p>